An “absolutely horrendous” proposal for a building rubbish processing plant is not going ahead, it has been claimed.

Deep controversy had surrounded Essex County Council’s plans for a potential recycling depot in Hastingwood, next to junction seven for the M11.

Opponents to the proposal, which was in consideration alongside several others, said it would pollute green belt land and homes, increase existing traffic problems and threaten nearby St Clare Hospice.

Consultation on the plan was also widely criticised for not being publicised and carried out too quickly – Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread said he was “most displeased” with the county council.

Now, North Weald parish council says it has been told the unpopular proposals have been “abandoned”.

“It is brilliant news, our collective action has had some effect,” said Paul Sozzi of Mill Street in Hastingwood, who raised public awareness about the processing plant.

“If you see the number of incidents on the M11 recently, the only way in our out would be through Harlow or Epping and neither of those towns have got the roads for those vehicles.

“You are talking a lorry every eight minutes – it is busy at the best of times, there is no way they could take the level of traffic.

“You have got a danger to cyclists, wildlife, and there is the dirt from those lorries.

“It is just an impossible solution, it does not work.”

Parish council chairman councillor Cyril Hawkins also labelled the plans as “absolutely horrendous.”

He said: “We would welcome the decision for it not to go ahead.

“I think everything about it [would be a problem], the heavy vehicles coming in from everywhere all the time would cause more traffic wherever they come from.”

A spokesman for the county council said no final decision on the plans, but did not deny the parish council’s claims.

He said: “The next stage of the waste local plan will be consulted on in due course and no formal decision has yet been made by the council on prospective sites.”

However, cllr. Hawkins said the information had come from a “reliable source”.